Starfish Sisters by J.C. Burke

Author:J.C. Burke [JC Burke]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781864715224
Publisher: Random House Australia

MICKI

It was twenty-one past eleven when Kia went into the bathroom. Somehow I'd known she was awake. Sounds weird, but I could just feel it.

Kia hadn't said a thing about her dad coming up to camp today. Maybe she didn't know or, more like it, didn't care.

Patiently, and I was good at being patient, I waited for Kia to finish brushing her teeth or whatever she was doing. There was much to write in my diary tonight. Even though it wasn't good stuff it kind of wasn't bad stuff either. I was still here and I'd been sure – positive – that they were going to tell me I had to go home.

It all started after lunch while I was on clean-up duty. Megan had already bolted, saying she'd done her fair share and didn't want to be late for the expression session. I didn't either but someone had to finish the wiping up or Brian would've gone feral.

The minute I saw Carla walk into the dining room I knew something had happened. I felt it like a 'pop' in my stomach. Then Reg came in after her and my stomach crashed to my feet.

'Everything's okay, Micki,' Reg said. He could read my face. Years of practice, I suppose. 'Everything's fine.'

'Go into my office,' Carla said. 'I'll just go whisper to Shyan and Taylor to start without Micki.'

I waited till it was just the two of us to ask, 'What's happened to Dad?'

Quickly, Reg said, 'He busted.'

The first thing that came into my head was, At least I got a week here.

'Someone found him sleeping on the footpath outside the council building,' Reg explained. 'He was stoned.'

The cycle of hospital, rehab and hope had circled the best of my twelve years. I didn't know any different.

'I'm so sorry to have to tell you, Micki.'

'I only spoke to him two nights ago. He seemed . . . good.'

I pressed my fingers against my lips. It was just habit. I didn't cry about it anymore.

If I didn't ask Reg what time the train or bus left for back home, then maybe he'd forget about it.

I watched my finger circle my mozzie bite scar, my constant reminder of who I really was. 'So am I going home now or in the morning?'

'Going home? You're not going home,' Reg replied. 'I convinced him to go to hospital. Sorry, darl, I should've said that first.'

'But, but, is it okay for me to stay?' Suddenly I was confused. In my head I'd been going through my drawers and packing my bags. 'I thought he'd need me to go home.'

'He's going to be in for at least a week,' Reg said. 'There's no need for you to be there. I just wanted to tell you in person that he's in hospital, rather than them calling you or you trying to call him at home and him not answering.'

My tears caught me by surprise. Quickly I wiped them before Reg saw.

After I left Carla's office, I bypassed the video of our expression session and headed for the beach.

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